The Swedish yacht Assa Abloy has become the first vessel to cross the finish line (Friday) in Auckland harbor to win the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race.
The yacht, skippered by Neal McDonald of Britain, also won the first part of the leg last Saturday. The Sydney to Hobart race was the first section of the almost 24-hundred nautical mile race from Sydney to Auckland.
Assa Abloy finished the third leg on the ninth day of the race. The Volvo yachts left Sydney Harbor on December 26. Amer Sports One was expected to finish in second place, about two hours behind Assa Abloy.
German boat illbruck, the overall race leader after winning the first two legs, was battling for third place with the News Corp and Tyco. Less than one nautical mile separates the trio, which was expected to cross the finish line about four hours after Assa Abloy.
After two legs, illbruck led the standings with 16 points, followed by News Corp (12) Amer Sports One (11) SEB (10), Djuice and Assa Abloy (seven each), Tyco (six) and Amer Sports Too (three).
The global race started in Southampton, England on September 23rd. After traveling to Rio de Janeiro, the yachts will sail to Miami, Baltimore, La Rochelle, France and Goteborg, Sweden. The race ends in Kiel (keel), Germany, in June.